figure
♦♦♦ fig|ure /f'ɪgər, AM -gjər/ (figures figuring figured)
1 [N-COUNT]
A figure is a particular amount expressed as a number, especially a statistic.
It would be very nice if we had a true figure of how many people in this country haven't got a job...
It will not be long before the inflation figure starts to fall...
New Government figures predict that one in two marriages will end in divorce.
2 [N-COUNT]
A figure is any of the ten written symbols from 0 to 9 that are used to represent a number.
= digit
3 [N-PLURAL] adj/num N
An amount or number that is in single figures is between zero and nine. An amount or number that is in double figures is between ten and ninety-nine. You can also say, for example, that an amount or number is in three figures when it is between one hundred and nine hundred and ninety-nine.
Inflation, which has usually been in single figures, is running at more than 12%...
Crawley, with 14, was the only other player to reach double figures...
4 [N-COUNT] usu with supp, oft N of n
You refer to someone that you can see as a figure when you cannot see them clearly or when you are describing them.
She waited, standing on the bridge, until his figure vanished against the grey backdrop of the Palace...
5 [N-COUNT]
In art, a figure is a person in a drawing or a painting, or a statue of a person.
...a life-size bronze figure of a brooding, hooded woman.
6 [N-COUNT] with supp, oft poss/adj N
Your figure is the shape of your body.
Take pride in your health and your figure...
Janet was a natural blonde with a good figure.
7 [N-COUNT] with supp
Someone who is referred to as a figure of a particular kind is a person who is well-known and important in some way.
The movement is supported by key figures in the three main political parties.
8 [N-COUNT] with supp, usu n N, N of n
If you say that someone is, for example, a mother figure or a hero figure, you mean that other people regard them as the type of person stated or suggested.
Sometimes young lads just need to turn to a mother figure for a bit of a chat and reassurance.
9 [N-COUNT] also N num
In books and magazines, the diagrams which help to show or explain information are referred to as figures.
If you look at a world map (see Figure 1) you can identify the major wine-producing regions...
10 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
In geometry, a figure is a shape, especially a regular shape. (TECHNICAL)
Draw a pentagon, a regular five-sided figure.
11 [VERB] V that
If you figure that something is the case, you think or guess that it is the case. (INFORMAL)
She figured that both she and Ned had learned a lot from the experience.
12 [VERB] that/it V, also it V that
If you say `That figures' or `It figures', you mean that the fact referred to is not surprising. (INFORMAL)
When I finished, he said, `Yeah. That figures'...
13 [VERB] no passive, V in n, also V as n
If a person or thing figures in something, they appear in or are included in it.
Human rights violations figured prominently in the report.fa|ther fig|ure (father figures)
also father-figure
[N-COUNT]
If you describe someone as a father figure, you mean that you feel able to turn to that person for advice and support in the same way that you might turn to your father.
She believed her daughter needed a father-figure...
He became a father figure to the whole company.fig|ure eight (figure eights)
[N-COUNT]
A figure eight is the same as a figure of eight. (AM)fig|ure of eight (figures of eight)
[N-COUNT]
A figure of eight is something that has the shape of the number 8, for example a knot or a movement done by a skater. (BRIT; in AM, usually use figure eight)fig|ure of speech (figures of speech)
[N-COUNT]
A figure of speech is an expression or word that is used with a metaphorical rather than a literal meaning.
Of course I'm not. It was just a figure of speech.figure on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n/-ing
If you figure on something, you plan that it will happen or assume that it will happen when making your plans. (INFORMAL)
Jack worked as hard as he could to build his business, but he hadn't figured on a few obstacles.
= reckon onfigure out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P wh/that, V P n (not pron), V n P
If you figure out a solution to a problem or the reason for something, you succeed in solving it or understanding it. (INFORMAL)
It took them about one month to figure out how to start the equipment...
They're trying to figure out the politics of this whole situation...
I don't have to be a detective to figure that out.
= work outfig|ure skat|ing
[N-UNCOUNT]
Figure skating is skating in an attractive pattern, usually with spins and jumps included.moth|er fig|ure (mother figures)
also mother-figure
[N-COUNT]
If you regard someone as a mother figure, you think of them as having the role of a mother and being the person you can turn to for help, advice, or support.
1 [N-COUNT]
A figure is a particular amount expressed as a number, especially a statistic.
It would be very nice if we had a true figure of how many people in this country haven't got a job...
It will not be long before the inflation figure starts to fall...
New Government figures predict that one in two marriages will end in divorce.
2 [N-COUNT]
A figure is any of the ten written symbols from 0 to 9 that are used to represent a number.
= digit
3 [N-PLURAL] adj/num N
An amount or number that is in single figures is between zero and nine. An amount or number that is in double figures is between ten and ninety-nine. You can also say, for example, that an amount or number is in three figures when it is between one hundred and nine hundred and ninety-nine.
Inflation, which has usually been in single figures, is running at more than 12%...
Crawley, with 14, was the only other player to reach double figures...
4 [N-COUNT] usu with supp, oft N of n
You refer to someone that you can see as a figure when you cannot see them clearly or when you are describing them.
She waited, standing on the bridge, until his figure vanished against the grey backdrop of the Palace...
5 [N-COUNT]
In art, a figure is a person in a drawing or a painting, or a statue of a person.
...a life-size bronze figure of a brooding, hooded woman.
6 [N-COUNT] with supp, oft poss/adj N
Your figure is the shape of your body.
Take pride in your health and your figure...
Janet was a natural blonde with a good figure.
7 [N-COUNT] with supp
Someone who is referred to as a figure of a particular kind is a person who is well-known and important in some way.
The movement is supported by key figures in the three main political parties.
8 [N-COUNT] with supp, usu n N, N of n
If you say that someone is, for example, a mother figure or a hero figure, you mean that other people regard them as the type of person stated or suggested.
Sometimes young lads just need to turn to a mother figure for a bit of a chat and reassurance.
9 [N-COUNT] also N num
In books and magazines, the diagrams which help to show or explain information are referred to as figures.
If you look at a world map (see Figure 1) you can identify the major wine-producing regions...
10 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
In geometry, a figure is a shape, especially a regular shape. (TECHNICAL)
Draw a pentagon, a regular five-sided figure.
11 [VERB] V that
If you figure that something is the case, you think or guess that it is the case. (INFORMAL)
She figured that both she and Ned had learned a lot from the experience.
12 [VERB] that/it V, also it V that
If you say `That figures' or `It figures', you mean that the fact referred to is not surprising. (INFORMAL)
When I finished, he said, `Yeah. That figures'...
13 [VERB] no passive, V in n, also V as n
If a person or thing figures in something, they appear in or are included in it.
Human rights violations figured prominently in the report.fa|ther fig|ure (father figures)
also father-figure
[N-COUNT]
If you describe someone as a father figure, you mean that you feel able to turn to that person for advice and support in the same way that you might turn to your father.
She believed her daughter needed a father-figure...
He became a father figure to the whole company.fig|ure eight (figure eights)
[N-COUNT]
A figure eight is the same as a figure of eight. (AM)fig|ure of eight (figures of eight)
[N-COUNT]
A figure of eight is something that has the shape of the number 8, for example a knot or a movement done by a skater. (BRIT; in AM, usually use figure eight)fig|ure of speech (figures of speech)
[N-COUNT]
A figure of speech is an expression or word that is used with a metaphorical rather than a literal meaning.
Of course I'm not. It was just a figure of speech.figure on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n/-ing
If you figure on something, you plan that it will happen or assume that it will happen when making your plans. (INFORMAL)
Jack worked as hard as he could to build his business, but he hadn't figured on a few obstacles.
= reckon onfigure out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P wh/that, V P n (not pron), V n P
If you figure out a solution to a problem or the reason for something, you succeed in solving it or understanding it. (INFORMAL)
It took them about one month to figure out how to start the equipment...
They're trying to figure out the politics of this whole situation...
I don't have to be a detective to figure that out.
= work outfig|ure skat|ing
[N-UNCOUNT]
Figure skating is skating in an attractive pattern, usually with spins and jumps included.moth|er fig|ure (mother figures)
also mother-figure
[N-COUNT]
If you regard someone as a mother figure, you think of them as having the role of a mother and being the person you can turn to for help, advice, or support.